The Wah-Wah Diaries cover art

The Wah-Wah Diaries

The Making of a Film

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The Wah-Wah Diaries

By: Richard E. Grant
Narrated by: Richard E. Grant
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About this listen

 Here are the very personal diaries of Richard E. Grant's debut behind the camera, as writer and director of his autobiographical movie of the same name.

It is both a fascinating insight into the intrigues and agonies he encounters along the way, and also a deeply moving portrait of his childhood and his love affair with Swaziland, where he was born and brought up during the last throes of the British Empire.

Through the mayhem - never-ending financial pressures; hostilities, and finally breakdown of communication with his producer; the nerve-racking quest to persuade the King of Swaziland to grant permission to film in his country; the assembly of a stellar cast including Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Emily Watson, and Julie Walters - Richard E. Grant has written and reads, with characteristic humour and charm, an extraordinarily honest and revealing account of a labour of love and the realisation of a dream.

©2006 Richard E Grant (P)2006 Macmillan Digital Audio Direction & Production Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV History & Criticism

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All stars
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I loved listening to this. I had just listened to “A Pocketful of Happiness”, Richard E Grant’s diary of his wife Joan Washington’s illness and passing. I think I needed to go back to happier times in his life, so I came across this wonderful book. Richard had a tough time with his parents, so it was bitter sweet, but I hope cathartic for him to make the film and record his emotions in this book. I have a personal interest in Wah Wah because a dear friend from University, Sindi Nxumalo, was in it. I was delighted to hear her mentioned 3 times. It’s a wonder this film was ever made with the incompetent producer almost deliberately failing to do her job at every turn! The warmth of the relationships with the cast is magical, as are the descriptions of Swaziland. I want to watch the film again now! Great book. Withnail next! I’m a bit of a fan!

Fantastic account of the making of Wah Wah

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Must admit learned a lot about the ins and outs of film making. Lots of technical stuff, certainly more than I needed to know, but, I could listen to Richard read a telephone book with his dulcet tones so 5 stars for him if not the content.😘

Perhaps a little too detailed

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A Must for any film buff interested in the movies and their making. Richard's wonderful dulcet tones take us on his very personal journey, from writing the script, through the trials, tribulations and production nightmares, to the birthing of his small independent baby.

A Must For Any Film Buff.

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If you like Richard E Grant (and how can one not) and you have an interest in how films are made with all the trials and tribulations that go with it, then this book is a great listen. Grant is as always a wonderful and honest writer, and a great narrator.

A very ry engaging insight into film making

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I stumbled on to this book after hearing its mention on the empire podcast. Richard E. Grant was being congratulated on his Oscar nomination. He came across so humble and funny in podcast I thought I’d give the book a listen and so happy I did. The book is a tells the story of the making of the movie, from the very first meeting with a producer to movie getting a distribution deal, and all the ups and downs in between. Richard E. Grant doesn’t so much perform the book but relives each moment and you can you can hear genuine joy and sadness as he reads his own words. I’ll never look at an independent movie again in the same way. The blood, sweat and tears that went into making the move are all there. I was sorry when I finished it, because it was so interesting and enjoyable. I look forward to seeing the movie.

A fantastic insight into the world of filmmaking

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I like Richard E. Grant very much and hoped his book would be enjoyable. I wasn't disappointed. He reads it with enthusiasm and laughs when obviously it was funny when it happened. So you get a feeling of being there very much. The only thing was I thought it could have been trimmed by about 15 minutes. The build up to the filmimg was great and I enjoyed the later episodes of the editing and promotion more than the actual filming part of the story. But thats only me. Well worth the purchase.

Excellent

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It is what it says on the box.
When Richard E Grant (also popularly known as Withnail) began to write the screenplay for a film about his early life, growing up in Africa before the white colonists handed over power and returned to their motherlands, he began to keep a diary, about his writings, his attempts to get financed, enlist the actors and film crew - all of that behind the scenes stuff we who merely watch the final product never know about. It took over five years, times of elation, despair, frustration, anger, tears, laughter, friendship - almost every emotion known. And this book is the diary read by the excellent author/ actor himself.
Sheer delight.
Now to find the film, and another audio book by Richard E Grant

"Mirages and mirrors."

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No, this is not worth a credit. A very dull diarised account of the making of a film. I couldn't finish it.

Supremely dull

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This book sounded great mainly because of rich e grants super charisma, but found the telling of making the film tedious.

Wah wah

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I have tried so hard to listen to this books but my mind kept wondering off. To me, who has read nearly 1000 books, it's a sign of boredom. It's an extremely (please underline extremely) detailed account of the making of his life story into a movie. At one point Grant writes (in excruciating detail) EVERY actor who tuned the project down (with details of the actual conversations!) Instead of simply writing "several actors turned me down". I almost got to a point where I was saying out loud "just take the project and lets move on!!".

...Has anyone ever watched those youtube videos made by first timers who keep the camera rolling while they wait for milk to boil or food to cook instead of editing "the waiting" out? Well this book is the written versions of an unedited story. Really liked the hotel TV show, this book though? Sorry not so much

Good Effort, too much Details

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